The use and development of a property is managed through various City bylaws, regulations and processes to ensure that new development aligns with the City’s vision and goals. Coquitlam is in a rapidly developing and changing region. Today, Coquitlam is home to more than 173,599 people and is one of the fastest growing cities in Metro Vancouver.
It’s important to manage growth in a way so new development is livable, attractive, and contributes positively to the community, while making sure that infrastructure and amenities, like parks, keep pace with growth. Listed below are the City's key planning documents that guide growth and development. Other City Plans and Strategies may provide more detailed development information that help to shape the future of Coquitlam:
The City may update the OCP and Zoning Bylaw to:
- Better guide new housing and growth
- Plan for parks and other civic facilities
- Provide improved housing and transportation options
- Integrate new growth into existing neighbourhoods
- Maintain a high quality of life for existing and new residents
Planning for Growth
New growth in Coquitlam is focused in three areas:
- In transit-oriented areas near SkyTrain, such as City Centre, Burquitlam, and Lougheed
- On Burke Mountain
- In existing neighbourhoods such as Austin Heights and Maillardville
Regional Growth Strategy
Metro Vancouver's Regional Growth Strategy represents the collective long-term vision for how our region will manage growth over the next 30 years.
The Strategy sets out goals, strategies and policies to guide the future growth of the region and provides the land use framework for transportation, economic, housing, utility (water, liquid waste and solid waste), environmental and climate change planning across Metro Vancouver.
For more information, please refer to the Metro Vancouver 2050 webpage.
Official Community Plan
The Official Community Plan (OCP) is a primary planning document providing the vision and guidance to the city’s future growth and development, divided into four main sections:
- Schedule A of the OCP sets priorities and addresses issues that affect the entire City
- Neighbourhood Plans that provide a detailed vision for a particular neighbourhood (eg. Maillardville Neighbourhood Plan, or Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood Plan). A neighbourhood plan may provide additional information regarding the type and location of housing and commercial buildings in the neighbourhood, development of natural and recreation areas, plans for needed community facilities, and outlines pedestrian and cycling networks.
- Development Permit Areas play a key role in implementing City policies by providing design direction for the form and character of new development (Urban Design Guidelines), can promote energy and water conservation, help to protect the natural environment and protect development from hazardous conditions (Watercourse, unstable slopes and wildfire DPA).
For more information, please refer to the Official Community Plan (OCP).
Zoning Bylaw
The Zoning Bylaw regulates how land, buildings and other structures may be used. Zoning is a tool to implement the City’s vision, policies and land use designations as set out in the OCP. All land in the city is assigned a zone under the City’s Zoning Bylaw. Zoning regulates the following:
Zoning regulates the following:
- Permitted uses
- Residential tenure (rental, non-market, private)
- Density (intensity) of uses and buildings
- Siting and building size criteria (Setbacks, height, etc.)
- Size of parcels created by subdivision
For more information, please refer to the Zoning Bylaw.